Monopoly Money vs. Liberty Dollars
You Decide.
Bankers Declare War on Liberty
Bankers have just fired the opening salvo in a war that, once settled, will determine WHO OWNS THIS COUNTRY.
By now, most of you have heard about the FBI's recent raid on the offices of the producers of Liberty Dollars and their confiscation of millions of dollars worth of coins and metals.
What you may not realize is that this is the beginning of what will be a long and ferocious battle for the freedom of this once great nation of people to command and control their destinies.
Because as we all know, any and all talk about "Left" and "Right" and "Republicans" and "Democrats" is nothing but smoke and mirrors. The only thing that matters is - who controls the MONEY SUPPLY.
According to an affidavit (PDF) filed by FBI agent Andrew Romagnuolo in support of a federal seizure warrant obtained from a U.S. Magistrate last week, the feds have been investigating Liberty Dollar not just for violating federal bans on circulating alternative currency, but also for mail fraud, wire fraud, and money laundering.
Good post, but the writer fails to note that the charges of mail fraud, wire fraud, and money laundering are all based on the bogus charge that they are "guilty" of anything to begin with ("The currency violations above support the additional federal violations including mail fraud, wire fraud and conspiracy." See, p. 4 of the warrant; p. 1 of the affidavit).
But, since the whole Federal Reserve System is unconstitutional, the application of any laws that maintain that illegitimate monopoly are equally unconstitutional.
As for the mysterious connection to the Western District of North Carolina, the document names William Innes of Asheville as a Regional Currency Officer for Liberty Dollar and an executive committee member of the company. Undercover government agents made Asheville a focus of their investigation as a result, attending area meetings of Liberty Dollar prospective buyers and sellers.
The affidavit further details Liberty Dollar's structure and terms it a "multi-level marketing scheme." The FBI claims the company realizes a profit by selling the Liberty Dollars into circulation. The feds also went back to October 2002 for bank records of Liberty Dollar principals and cite large sums of cash moving between accounts said to be controlled by those individuals.
SO WHAT???
They've just described the conduct of millions of legitimate businesses in the United States.
I bought a whole bunch of worthless coins with a little mouse engraved on them, but the FBI hasn't raided Chuck-e-Cheese offices across the nation! And I can't imagine a more elaborate marketing scheme than that!
The document also mentions that the company continued to circulate Liberty Dollars after it had been warned by the US Mint not to do so. Part of the evidence cited for this is an FBI agent purchasing a "The US Mint Can Bite Me" t-shirt at a Liberty Dollar University event in October 2006.
The affidavit concludes that because the Liberty Dollar operation uses Federal Reserve Notes to conduct its business, it is fraudulent. "This reliance upon FRN's by a group opposed to FRN's demonstrates that the American Liberty Dollar Monetary system is simply a drain on the United State Government's monetary system for financial profit via fraudulent means," the feds claim. The document further claims there is probable cause that violations of federal law took place as a result of these activities.
This is all unadulterated, bogus, bullshit.
The affidavit also blames the Liberty Dollar producers for doubling the price of their coins when the increasing price of silver made it no longer profitable to sell the coins at 10 FRNs (see, p. 8, Affidavit).
Whose fault is that??? It's the Federal Reserve Notes that are losing value at an astronomical pace - why should liberty dollar producers be blamed???
I agree that their "cross-over" plan provides an unfair gain for Liberty Dollar associates (see, pp. 12-13, Affidavit). But, then they should be prosecuted for greed - not for violating a law that is unconstitutional to begin with.
But, as far as I know, there is no known law against greed in America. If there were, the Federal Reserve should be the first to be prosecuted.
Then they have the nerve to complain that Liberty Dollar producers call Federal Reserve Notes by their REAL NAME instead of referring to it as United States currency (see, p. 11 Affidavit).
Unbelievable Chutzpah. That's what the freaking thing says!!!
They're being prosecuted for telling the truth.
Based on the allegations presented in this affidavit, there is ZERO reason to believe that the makers of the Liberty Dollar did anything whatsoever outside of their rights under the Constitution.
Even if they may have planned to make a hefty profit out of competing with the Federal Reserve, at least they weren't trying to maintain a monopoly! Virtually anyone could become a Liberty Dollar Associate.
Moreover, customers know they are buying a product at a price (in FRNS) that provides the producer with a profit. Unfair profits are nothing that a little competition can't cure.
But, then this is not about legitimacy and fairness.
Liberty Dollar producers are being prosecuted because they succeeded in injecting Liberty Dollars into the market, which little by little will leave FRNs with a shrinking market of suckers [I mean, people] willing to accept them in exchange for their goods and labor.
Producing and circulating Liberty Dollars is completely within their rights under the US constitution, which is being grossly violated by the act that gives private bankers a monopoly on the money supply to begin with.
The Constitution gives congress the RIGHT to coin and REGULATE the value of money and FIX the standards of weights and measurements.
The fact that they are directed to "fix the standards of weights and measurements" undermines any argument that they are given a monopoly on coining money, let alone given the right to hand over that monopoly to a band of greedy private bankers.
Central bankers are simply pissed that their illegitimate monopoly on our money supply is being challenged, so they do what they do best - command the government they control to force their monopoly money on the people.
But, this time - they've gone too far.
If we're not free to use the money we want, then we're not free - PERIOD.
Let the battle begin.
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RELATED: Paper Tigers, Black Gold, and Real Power
The scan graphic of Chuck E Cheese faux gold coins.
I've used different kinds of tokens from amusement parks (arcade) and car wash locations.
Yeah, FBI and Secret Service are f*cking dumbasses for actually serving Federal Reserve the private enterprise. What private company employ the law and anti-counterfeit enforcement arm of the U.S. government at its behest?
Think I should write the snail mail letter to rebuke them with facts like the Constitution Article I Section 8 and the print-out of Andrew Jackson's 1832 bank veto address.
Nevermind that I've been advocating this since February '06.
That's beside the point.
The truth is now irrefutable.
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"Money" has no value - people do.
Will the U.S. Mint (er, the Fed) consider Santa Claus silver bullion round "threatening" to their monopoly if the elves were the main traders in the elf communities spread across America?
Source
Christians and Muslims are anti-semitic because they don't celebrate Hannukah.
anti-anti-semites are anti-semitic because they're not really semitic and hate semites!
While I thought the liberty dollar was a nifty idea, after doing some reading into it, I thought it was a scam a long time ago. Though some of the accusations made in the affidavit stem around the topic of the issuance of currency, which arguments can be made for and against, the greater thing that leapt out at me (and made me steer away from purchasing them myself), is the concept that the Liberty Dollar is marketed as being 100% backed by silver, when in fact it's not. A $20 silver coin is not backed by $20 worth of silver, but only $14 (or so). Even accounting for manufacturing costs, their has been a huge amount of markup all along the way. That, combined with the pay-in "affiliate" program, which does reek of multilevel marketing (an industry that I worked in in early year years), really does reak of dishonesty on their part.
You can purchase a $20 coin, but never be able to redeem it for $20.00, so it's not 100% backed by silver. They claim it's inflation proof, but then their plan for increasing the denominations based on spot silver prices ratchet up a lot faster than spot silver prices do.
Fight all you want for the ability to choose the method of payment you feel most comfortable with, but (in my opinion), don't portray Liberty Dollars as being anything other than what it was - a scam that fed on the (understandable) distrust of the dollar in order to sell silver medallions at prices way above what they would have otherwise been able to fetch for the.
Here in Canada, the number one currency is the Canadian Dollar.
However, the number two currency is not, as one would expect, the American Dollar.
The number two most used currency in Canada? The Canadian Tire Store Coupons/Dollars. They start at five cents and go all the way up to five dollars. The Canadian Tire Store "money" is preferred by charities because Canadian Tire matches the amount donated. Your American Government has, in the past, tried to get my Government to stop this.
My point is, if I were to go to the US for a visit with a wad of Canadian Tire "money" in my wallet, would I be arrested?
Where else could you get a 2300% return on your money in just 5 days?
Ron Paul Liberty Dollars sold for $25 federal reserve fish wrappers last Tuesday and now the "Buy it Now " price on Ebay, which means that is what some have some for in open bidding, is $575 federal reserve cigar lighters.
If you had invested $25,000 in Ron Paul Liberty Dollars and taken shipment by last Tuesday, you would now be sitting on a cool potential $575,000!
Check out this chicken shit disclaimer that one of the EBAY sellers is putting on the RON PAUL DOLLAR he is selling:
When did the American people become so "shit-in-their-pants" fearful of their criminal government?
The Tree of Liberty needs watering!
lucasjkr:
You say the silver's only worth $14? Have you held one of those coins in your hand? They are completely amazing! The art and craftsmanship value alone makes them worth more than $20, not to mention the added value because of what Ron Paul is trying to do. I just noticed one selling on eBay for $415. How can you say they are only worth $14. As soon as I got mine, I had to order more (too bad I didn't) - and I don't collect coins. Believe me, they arr worth $20. Take it easy.
may have their drawbacks and it seems, assuming these allegations are true and that there are no other explanations for the cross-over points, that they expected too much profit from the increasing devaluation of FRNs.
But, the point of this post, and I believe, the reason why they are being prosecuted, while others are not, is the Fed's fear that the issuance of Ron Paul dollars would ride the wave of his popularity and finally become the foremost issue on the public's mind come next elections.
Ron Paul dollars are a serious domestic threat to Federal Reserve Notes.
The extraordinary price they command on e-bay reflects not their intrinsic value, but the level of trust in Ron Paul and his monetary policies and the corresponding level of distrust in the current administration and their bogus Federal Reserve Notes.
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"Money" has no value - people do.
The Ron Paul Liberty Dollars are zooming in value among collectors because they are symbolic of a sea change that is coming. The fact that their production was ceased by an illegal action by the stooges of the federal reserve only makes them more collectible.
The people buying those RP Liberty dollars aren't doing it for sentimental reasons, they know these will be viewed as a piece of historical Americana.
The Fogedda Bout It didn't raid the Amero outfit because they love the occult fascist design of the Amero coins.
Like I said before - They like the image of "Liberty" as a Roman "loo" with the goddess holding her "sponge" ready to wipe it out.
An important comment by AA at another post - A MUST READ for anyone who wants to understand the future of the petrodollar:
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It was Hugo Chavez that called for the OPEC summit after he toured the Middle East in August 2007.
OPEC has held only three summit meetings in its 40-year history. Chavez wants to hold a summit every five years. He arrived in Riyadh with his family members, plus 200 delegates, and found an opulent meeting hall with crystal chandeliers and toilet accessories fitted in gold leaf.
Chavez’ opening remarks at the two-day summit lasted 25 minutes. He said, "We are witnessing constant threats against Iran. If the United States attempts the madness of invading Iran or attacking Venezuela again, the price of oil will probably reach $200.”
Chavez asked OPEC to join his quest for social justice, saying OPEC should be "at the vanguard in the fight against poverty."
Opposing him was Arabia's King Abdullah, a strong Bush ally, who said, "OPEC has always acted moderately and wisely. Oil is an energy for development, it should not become a tool for conflict and emotions.”
Chavez advanced the Caracas Declaration, which calls on the 13-nation OPEC group to, "Put itself at the forefront in the design of a new international economic structure." He wants OPEC to set up a special bank to fund international development in poor nations. He also wants OPEC to set aside tens of billions of dollars to subsidize purchases of petroleum by poor nations.
King Abdullah disagreed, and said OPEC has, "Two essential objectives: first to defend the interest of its members, and second to protect the international economy from sudden shake-ups in oil prices and supplies."
Chavez and Iran said the dollar should be dropped as the standard for pricing petroleum. King Abdullah and Algeria sought to redirect discussions back toward discussions about the environment.
Mamdouh Salameh, an international oil expert, told Al Jazeera: "Saudi Arabia and Kuwait are under the US military shadow. Consequently, it will be anti-American decision if they shift to another currency other than the dollar."
Economists say this signals global concern about the declining strength of the U.S. economy and foreign investor confidence in the dollar.
Because of high oil prices, U.S. Energy Secretary Samuel Bodman begged OPEC to increase production earlier this week, but OPEC officials said they would hold off any decision until oil ministers meet on December 5 in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.
OPEC officials said that increased output would not bring down prices anyway, since the recent price rise is driven by the falling dollar, and by the financial speculation of investment funds, rather than any supply shortage. The oil market is no longer simply an oil market; it has merged with gigantic high-speed financial and information markets.
Besides, OPEC production quotas are poorly enforced. OPEC produces about 40 percent of the world's oil, but controls 70 percent of the world’s proven reserves.
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2007/11/17/world/main3517873.shtml
Despite King Abdullah’s opposition, OPEC closed its summit by signing the Caracas Declaration, which challenges rich nations to assume responsibility for what the Declaration calls a manufactured oil crisis.
OPEC Secretary-General Rilwanu Lukman suggested that wealthy nations should put their own house in order, "By ensuring that their environmental, fiscal, energy and trade policies do not discriminate against oil, thereby helping to achieve global sustainable development."
Chavez blasted the world's industrial powers for expecting cheap energy. He said Third World is more crippled by DEBT than by costly fuel.
http://archives.cnn.com/2000/WORLD/americas/09/28/opec.summit.02/index.h...
OPEC was formed In September 1960 when Middle Eastern nations and Venezuela became angry with Standard Oil of New Jersey for dictating a cut in the price that Standard was willing to pay for Middle Eastern oil. Today $700 billion a year goes to OPEC nations. The Gulf Arab states and Arabia earn more than a billion dollars a day from oil sales. However, high prices threaten to slow the world's strongest economies.
Arabia has the most power in OPEC, because Arabia has the overwhelming majority of OPEC’s spare production capacity, and also because Arabia is an ally of Bush and Israel.
Other OPEC nations are producing near maximum capacity, but a third of Nigeria's production has been shut down by resistance to Bush. Iran wants foreign expertise and investment to exploit its big oil and gas reserves, but Bush has threatened to punish any firm that does business with Iran. These factors, plus the war against Iraq, have sliced at least 2.5 million barrels a day, or about 8 percent, from OPEC output.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/11/15/AR200711...
MICROPHONE GAFF
Iran and Venezuela wanted the meeting to focus on the dying dollar. Arabian Foreign Minister Saud al-Faisal opposed this, and did not want any discussion of the dollar, fearing it would weaken the dollar further. "There are media people outside waiting to catch this point, and they will add to it [exaggerate] and we may find that the dollar collapses."
Unknown to him, his microphone had been left on, and journalists saw his remarks on closed-circuit TV. His microphone was instantly shut off.
THE COST OF PLEASING BUSH AND ISRAEL
Arabia has investments in the US and many other countries that are denominated in dollars, and are therefore starting to lose money.
The dollar has fallen 10 per cent against the euro this year, which cuts into oil producers' income and purchasing power. It has also made imports much more expensive, with Gulf countries particularly affected. Inflation has risen dramatically, affecting low-paid foreign workers especially hard.
Global concern is growing that the dollar's weakness signals the end of its reign as the world's main international currency. The dollar would be further damaged if OPEC starts selling its oil in euros, or creates a basket of currencies, as sought by Iran and Venezuela.
Gulf currencies, such as the UAE dirham, have been pegged to the dollar for the past 30 years. Becaue of inflation pressure, Arabia unpegged its currency from the dollar. The other Gulf states will have to do the same, unless they want to continue losing massive amounts of money.
http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/15E6590A-E541-4142-A58F-B1929C670...
OPEC’s dilemma is that it wants to move away from the dollar, yet Arabia does not want to anger Bush and Israel.
The final statement of the OPEC summit in Riyadh did not include any reference to the dying dollar, but Iran and Venezuela said they would continue to call for dumping the dollar.
Iraqi Finance Minister Bayan Jabor told Reuters that OPEC finance ministers would discuss the weak dollar before oil ministers meet in Abu Dhabi on December 5. The meetng of finance ministers was set up because Ecudador joined Venezuela and Iran.
ECUADOR REJOINS OPEC, MOVES AWAY FROM BUSH
In 1999 the USA opened a military base near the city of Manta, near Ecuador’s coast. The USA has used the base as its hub for “Plan Columbia,” which this USA says is decicated to controlling drug traffic.
The U.S. lease on the base will expire in 2009. Ecuador's President Rafel Correa has refused to renew it. In October during a trip to Italy, Correa said, “We'll renew the base on one condition: that they let us put an Ecuadorean base base in Miami. If there's no problem having foreign soldiers on a country's soil, surely they'll let us have an Ecuadorean base in the United States."
Correa has promised to cut off his arm before extending the lease, and has called U.S. President George W. Bush a "dimwit".
(http://uk.reuters.com/article/reutersEdge/idUKADD25267520071022 )
Ecuador has rejoined OPEC after a 15 year break. At the Riyadh summit, Rafael Correa proposed that a tax be imposed on oil-consuming nations for environmental protection programs. He said, “We are annoyed by all this self-righteous talk of 'don't cut down your trees' from the first world, when they've already done it. If Europe wants to breathe pure air from Amazon countries then Amazon countries shouldn't have to pay for it."
(http://www.reuters.com/article/businessNews/idUSL177919620071118?feedTyp... )
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"Money" has no value - people do.